The Ili River, the largest waterway in Zhetysu (Semirechye), flows through the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, stretching for nearly 1,500 kilometers. Approximately half of its length lies within China, and thousands of years ago, caravans traveling the Great Silk Road followed this river’s course.
The Ili originates in China, at the convergence of the Tekes and Kunges Rivers, at the foot of the Central Tien Shan. In Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, the river is regulated by the Kapchagai Reservoir. In the second half of the 20th century, a dam was constructed in the Ili Valley, alongside the building of the Kapchagai hydroelectric power station. The river eventually empties into Lake Balkhash in southeastern Kazakhstan.
The Kapchagai Reservoir is so vast that locals affectionately refer to it as “Kapchemore” or “Kapchik,” meaning “Kapchagai Sea.” It is a beloved vacation spot for residents of Almaty and nearby cities. In the summer, it offers a beachside retreat with numerous hotels and sanatoriums. In winter, visitors can capture stunning photos of the towering ice blocks. Kapchagai also provides various activities like water skiing, rafting, diving, and yachting.
The city of Kapchagai, which sits on the shores of its namesake reservoir, is located just 60 kilometers from Almaty. It developed around the Kapchagai hydroelectric power station and is home to a large water park in its center. Additionally, Kapchagai is the only city in Kazakhstan with a legalized gambling zone, featuring several operating casinos.
The Kapchagai Reservoir is also a haven for anglers, with its abundant fish species. Carp, walleye, silver carp, catfish, asp, snakehead, bream, river shrimp, and even white amur thrive here. The area around the Ili River is home to various animals and birds, including reed cats, black kites, muskrats, cranes, pheasants, hares, gulls, cuckoos, and more.
The Charyn River, which feeds into the Ili River, is relatively unknown even among many Kazakhstanis, but its most famous feature—the Charyn Canyon—is a must-visit destination. Comparable in beauty to the Grand Canyon in the U.S., the Charyn Canyon stretches over 150 kilometers. Scientists estimate the canyon’s sedimentary rock formations to be more than 10 million years old, and once a large lake covered the area. Near the canyon lies the stunning “Valley of Castles.”
Close to the Charyn Canyon is the Singing Dune, a natural phenomenon formed as winds drove sand from the shallows of the Ili River. The dune spans three kilometers in length and rises 150 meters in height. When dry, the sand produces a sound resembling that of an organ, giving the dune its name.
The Singing Dune is located within the Altyn-Emel National Park, bordered by the Kapchagai Reservoir and surrounding mountains. The park takes its name from the Matai Altyn-Emel mountain pass, meaning “golden saddle.” Covering over 300,000 hectares, Altyn-Emel is renowned for its ancient necropolis dating back to the 8th–3rd centuries BCE, the Taiga petroglyphs, the Aktau canyons, the volcanic Katutau mountains, the Kokbastau tract, and the Shokan Valikhanov spring.
Just outside Kapchagai are the Tamgaly-Tas rocks, where visitors can view ancient petroglyphs and later rock carvings etched into the stone.
Further along the Ili River is the Nomad City, known for its Nomad Fortress. Originally constructed as a set for the film Nomad, scenes from the movie Day Watch were also filmed here. The Nomad City allows visitors to experience what medieval Central Asian cities once looked like, featuring clay houses, mosques, minarets, livestock pens, and more.
Visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Explore historic launch pads
Tour the Space Museum
See iconic space artifacts
Witness rocket assembly facilities
Visit the Gagarin Start Pad